Sutaj Estok: Zelenskyy Should Strive for Peace and Not Attack Neighbour

Bratislava, January 13 (TASR) - Co-governing Voice-SD party leader and Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok has criticised Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for stating that Slovakia is to blame for the gas problems, the Voice-SD press department informed TASR on Monday. "President Zelenskyy should focus on the very complicated situation in his country instead of attacking its neighbour, which has been helping it since the beginning of the war. I'm asking him to do his best in the name of the citizens of Ukraine to start peace negotiations," stated Sutaj Estok, declaring that Slovakia will stand on his side during these negotiations. Sutaj Estok spoke about Zelenskyy's unflattering statements about Slovakia, claiming that he doesn't understand the "pointless and untrue attacks" by the president of Ukraine, which Slovakia has selflessly helped with hundreds of millions of euros. He pointed out that citizens of Slovakia have helped Ukraine and shown Ukrainian refugees what Slovak solidarity means. "The taxes of Slovak citizens have gone to help Ukraine, and it is these citizens of Slovakia who will have more expensive gas and more expensive food due to the pointless stoppage of Russian gas by President Zelenskyy," stressed Sutaj Estok. Zelenskyy on the X platform on Sunday (November 12) evening criticised Slovak Premier Robert Fico in connection with his recent visit to Moscow. According to him, Ukraine offered its assistance to Slovakia in adapting to the absence of Russian gas transit, but Fico "arrogantly refused its offer", despite warnings by many European politicians. The problem is that Fico has bet on Moscow and not on his country or the unified Europe, stated Zelenskyy. The contract for Russian gas transit via Ukraine expired at the end of 2024, and Kiev decided not to renew it. Fico has repeatedly warned that Slovakia will lose half a billion euros annually as a result and has quantified the financial loss for the EU as €60-70 billion in total. ko/df